First we were four; the senior team, here as of Thursday, checking, planning, organising, typing, writing and designing. Things on campus were quiet but we were busy. The rain came down in sheets and for those of us that have come from countries with real summers, we wondered if the students would arrive to torrential rain. Then we were thirty; the staff arrived full of ideas and huge motivation and we settled in for a couple of days inducting, training, orientating and preparing....and then the inevitable occurred-arrivals.
As any Discovery Team knows, this can be a hard day, long, sometimes a bit fraught when students miss flights and arrive late and disorientated, but I am pleased to say, our arrival day went like a dream!
Students arrived throughout the day; most of them we not too tired which meant that they could get involved in activities. Football and frisbee were played, student hosts immediately made friends and started chatting to our international wards, meals were served in the beautiful college hall (complete today with its very own bat flying in, in true Harry Potter style!) staff buzzed about efficiently making sure everyone was happy and the atmosphere was one of summertime harmony. The sun had his hat on and teased us with the promise of summer; the campus smelled of freshly cut grass and the majestic oak trees swayed impressively to the sound of the students playing guitar and singing.
What more could we want as a centre? What more could I want as a Course Director?I have so far been charmed by our students; they are intelligent, mature young people who have stepped out of their usual bubbles to experience something new and inspriring and I know that judging by the excellent staff we have on campus, the fantastic facilities here at Winchester College and all the people that make our time here work so well, this is going to be a very special year.
So, students, parents, friends of students here and staff, I invite you to follow our month through this blog where you can envy at the wonderful time we will be having here.
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